Flashbulb-holding attachment

ABSTRACT

A perforate support, which is securable to the battery housing of a flash gun, has resilient grommets mounted within the openings thereof to releasably hold flashbulbs.

United States Patent Milo F. Mracek 22 Morwood Lane, Creve Coeur, Mo. 63141;

David .1. Black, 10156 Camshire Court, Saint Ann, Mo. 63074 Appl. No. 859,884

Filed Sept. 22, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 Inventors rLAsnnuuinoLomc ATTACHMENT 14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 240/ 1.3 Int. Cl G03b 15/03 [50] Field of Search 240/1 .3; 95/1] L; 224/5-4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,741,411 4/1956 Olden 240/l.3 UX 3,298,579 1/1967 Smith 224/5 Primary Examiner-Donald O. Woodiel AnorneyKingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins ABSTRACT: A perforate support, which is securable to the battery housing ofa flash gun, has resilient grommets mounted within the openings thereof to releasably hold flashbulbs.

PATENTEUHUY 2 ml 'FlG.5.

FIG.4.

1 FLASHBULB-HOLDING ATTACHMENT This invention relates to improvements in flashbulb-holding attachments. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in attachments which can releasably hold flashbulbs.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved attachment for releasably holding flashbulbs.

When a camera is used in an area where there is insufficient light and where there is not enough electric power to operate incandescent lamps, it is customary to use flashbulbs to supply the requisite light. When a large number of exposures are to be made, a large number of flashbulbs must be used; and hence a photographer frequently has to carry a number of flashbulbs with him. In recognition of that fact, a number of devices have been proposed for carrying flashbulbs; but some of those devices have been clumsy, some of those devices have been complicated, and some of those devices have been bulky. It would be desirable to provide -a device which could releasably hold flashbulbs, which was easy to handle, which was not complicated, and which was compact. The present invention provides such a device; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device which can releasably hold flashbulbs, which is easy to handle, which is not complicated, and which is compact.

The device provided by the present invention is an attachment which can be secured to the battery housing of a flash gun and which can releasably hold a large number of flashbulbs. That attachment includes a perforate support which is generally cylindrical in form and which encircles the battery housing of the flash gun; and that support has grommets in the openings thereof to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs. Because that attachment is securable to the battery housing of the flash gun, that attachment releasably holds the flashbulbs close to the socket into which those flashbulbs must be inserted; and hence that attachment makes it easy and convenient for the photographer to grasp a flashbulb and place it in the socket of the flash gun. Further; because the attachment of the present invention is securable to the battery housing of the flash gun, that attachment makes it easy and convenient for the photographer to return used flashbulbs to that attachment instead of littering the area with such flashbulbs. It is, therefore, an object of the present'invention to provide an attachment which can be secured to the battery housing of a flash gun and which can releasably hold a large number of flashbulbs.

The perforate support of the attachment provided by the present invention is spaced outwardly of the battery housing of the flash gun by spacers; and this is-desirable because it permits the bases of flashbulbs to extend all the way through the grommets, disposed within the openings of that perforate support, without striking and being obstructed by that battery housing. As a result, the bases of the flashbulbs can be telescoped far enough through the grommets, disposed within the openings of the perforate support, to prevent accidental separation of those bases from that perforate support. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an attachment which has a perforate support that is spaced outwardly of the battery housing of a flash gun by spacers.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanyingdescription a preferred embodiment of the present invention;is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. I is an elevational view of one embodiment of attachment provided by the present invention and of a flash gun with by the it is used,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the attachment shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a further sectional view through the attachment shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the perforate support of the attachment shown in FIG. 1, as that perforate support appears in developed form, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through a part of another attachment which is intended to releasably hold small flashbulbs. Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20 denotes a perforate support which has a number of openings 22 therein, and which also has a number of openings 24 therein. FIG. 4 shows that perforate support in developed form, and it shows the openings 22 arranged in rows. In the particular embodiment of attachment shown by FIGS. 1-4, there are four openings 22 in each of the first, second and fourth rows and there are five openings 22 in the third row. As shown particularly by FIG. 4, the perforate support 20 has a small opening 24 in each of the four corners thereof, and also has two small openings 24 adjacent the vertically directed center line of that perforate support.

The developed form of the perforate support 20 is shown by FIG. 4; and that perforate support will have that form when the openings 22 and 24 are formed therein-if that perforate support is made from metal and has the openings therein formed by a punching operation. That'perforate support will be given the form of a split sleeve-where that perforate support is made from metal and is initially flat-by a suitable rolling operation; but that perforate support can be formed as a split sleeve where it is molded from plastic material. The normal unstressed diameter of the perforatesupport 20 is considerably smaller than the diameter shown'by FIGS. 2 and 3; but that perforate support is sufficiently flexible and sufficiently resilient topermit it to be given the diameter shown by FIGS. 2 and 3.

The numeral 26 denotes a housing whichsupports a reflector 28, a socket'30 and a cable 32. That housing has arecess therein which contains batteries that are used to supply the energy needed to fire one of the flashbulbs 44 after that flashbulb has been seated within the socket 30. The housing 26, the reflector 28, the socket 30, the cable 32, and the flashbulbs 44 are of standard and usual design; and they are not, per se, parts of the present invention.

The numeral 36 denotes resilient spacers which are generally frustoconical in configuration, but which have reduced diameter cylindrical shanks 38. The diamete'rs of the cylindrical shanks 38 are slightly larger than the diameters of the openings 24 in the perforate support 20; and hence pres sure must be used to force those cylindrical shanks to pass through those openings. However, the spacers 36 are preferably made from a material--such as rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomeric plastic, or the like-which is sufficiently resilient to permit the cylindrical shanks 38 thereof to be pressed into the openings 24. Once tho'se cylindrical shanks have been pressed into the openings 24, the restorative forces within those cylindrical shanks will prevent accidental separation of the spacers 36 from the perforate support 20. The numeral 40 denotes grommets which are dimensioned to seat within the openings 22 in the perforate support 20. The inner diameters of the grommets 40 are slightly smaller than the diameters of the bases of the flashbulbs 44; and hence those bases must distend the openings in those grommets as those bases are pressed into and through those openings. However, the grommets 40 are preferably made from a materialsuch as rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomeric plastic, or the likewhich is sufficiently resilient to permit the bases of the flashbulbs 44 to distend the openings in those grommets as those bases are pressed into and through those openings.

As shown particularly by FIG. 3, the inner ends of the frustoconical portions of the resilient spacers 36 engage and bear against the housing 26. Also as shown by FIG. 3, the length of each of those frustoconical portions is considerably greater than the thickness of any of the grommets 40; and hence those spacers provide a substantial space between the housing 26 and the inner surface of each of the grommets 40. That substantial space permits the base of each flashbulb 44 to be telescoped all the way through a grommet 40, and permits the glass envelope of that flashbulb to bear against the outer surface of that grommet, without having that base engage the housing 26. Thus, as shown particularly by FIG. 2, the glass envelopes of the various flashbulbs 44 abut the outer surfaces of the grommets 40 but the bases of those flashbulbs are spaced outwardly of the housing 26.

After the perforate support has been given the configuration of a split sleeve, the grommets 40 will be disposed within the openings 22, and the reduced-diameter cylindrical shanks 38 of the resilient spacers 36 will be pressed into the openings 24. THe inner diameter of that perforate support will then be increased by forcing the confronting edges of that perforate support further apart; and, thereupon, that perforate support will be telescoped into position over the housing 26. Thereafter, the force which was used to spread apart the confronting edges of that perforate support will be released; and the restorative forces within that perforate support will force the inner ends of the frustoconical portions of the resilient spacers 36 into intimate engagement with the housing 26. Those restorative forces and those spacers will coact to hold that perforate support in spaced relation with that housing.

If desired, the perforate support 20 could be made as a stiff and essentially unyielding split or continuous sleeve and the resilient spacers 36 could be made very flexible. Where that was done, that perforate support could be telescoped over the housing 26 by forcing the frustoconical portions of the resilient spacers 26 to yield and bend.

The perforate support 20 and the grommets 40 thereof can releasably hold as many as 17 flashbulbs 44; and those flashbulbs will be held immediately adjacent the housing 26, and thus close to the socket 30. To replace a used flashbulb 44, the operator need only free the base of that flashbulb from the socket 30, free the base of another flashbulb 44 from one of the grommets 40, insert the base of the replacement flashbulb 44 in the socket 30, and insert the base of the used flashbulb 44 in the now-empty grommet. All of this is readily accomplished because the perforate support 20 and the grommets 40 thereof are close to the socket 30. By holding fresh flashbulbs 44 close to the socket 30, and by providing empty grommets for used flashbulb 44, the attachment provided by the present invention enables a photographer to take photographs with ease and to avoid littering the area where those photographs are taken.

'Some cameras are made to contain the batteries that are needed to flre" the flashbulbs 44; and battery housings 26 would not be needed with such cameras. Such cameras usually are equipped with slender supports for the sockets and reflectors for the flashbulbs; and the attachment provided by the present invention could be telescoped over those slender supports. To adequately grip those slender supports, split annuli of resilient material could be used in place of the spacers 36; and those split annuli would be carried by the perforate support and would directly engage, and firmly grip, those slender supports.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, the numeral 48 denotes a perforate support-in the form of a split sleeve-which has openings therein corresponding to, but smaller than, the openings 22 in the perforate support 20. The perforate support 48 also will have openings, not shown, in which resilient spacers corresponding to the resilient spacers 36 can be disposed. Grommets 50 will be disposed within the grommetreceiving openings in the perforate support 48; and those grommets having smaller diameter openings therein than do the grommets 40. Those smaller diameter openings accommodate and releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs 52 which have bases that are smaller than the bases of the flashbulbs 44. As shown particularly by FIG. 5, the base of one of the flashbulbs 52 has an annular groove therein; and the material of the grommet 50 will tend to move into and partially fill that annular groove as the base of that flashbulb is pressed into the opening in that grommet. As a result, the grommet 50 can tightly grip the base of the flashbulb 52. However, a firm pull on that flashbulb will readily withdraw the base of that flashbulb from the grommet 50.

The perforate support provided by the present invention holds the flashbulbs so they are open to view-thereby enabling a photographer to quickly make a visual count of the number of fresh flashbulbs. That perforate support can releasably hold clear flashbulbs and blue flashbulbs-thereby enabling a photographer to be ready for light conditions of different nature and intensity. That perforate support can be assembled with or separated from a battery housing without any need of tools.

If desired, the spacers 36 could be replaced by split annuli of resilient material that abutted the battery housing 26 and the inner surface of the perforate support. Also, if desired, the perforate support could be made with readily flexible fingers or other formations at the inner surfaces of the openings 22 thereof to releasably hold the flashbulbs 44. The perforate support is preferably made of water-resistant material so the attachment of the present invention can be used in underwater photography.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What we claim is:

1. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said support being relatively stiff and thus being incapable of directly gripping and holding said flashbulbs, said openings in said support being too large to directly grip and hold said flashbulbs, said resilient grommets being dimensioned so the openings therein can releasably hold the bases of said flashbulbs, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to fit within and to resist accidental separation from said openings in said support, the engagements between said grommets and the portions of said support which define said openings in said support being sufficiently intimate to enable said grommets to remain within said openings despite the axially directed forces which are applied to said grommets as said flashbulbs are inserted into and removed from the openings in said grommets, said support being stiff and unyielding as said flashbulbs are inserted into and removed from the openings in said grommets and said grommets providing all and whatever yielding that is necessary to permit said flashbulbs to be assembled with and separated from said holder, said grommets having portions thereof projecting outwardly beyond the opposite faces of said support.

2. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member ofa flash gun.

3. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said perforate support and said supporting member to hold the inner surfaces of said grommets spaced outwardly of said supporting member.

4. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, said spacers having lengths greater than the thicknesses of the portions of said grommets which extend inwardly of said perforate support.

5. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, and wherein said perforate support has openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed.

6. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said perforate support has a normal unstressed diameter which must be increased to permit the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member.

7. A holder for flashbulbs as-claimed in claim 2 wherein said perforate support is resilient, wherein said perforate support has a normal unstressed diameter which must be increased to permit the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member, and wherein the restorative forces within said perforate support hold said perforate support and said supporting member in telescoped relation after said perforate support has been telescoped over said supporting member.

8. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, wherein said perforate support has openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed, and wherein said spacers are resilient.

9. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extending between said perforate support and said supporting member to hold the inner surfaces of said grommets spaced outwardly of said supporting member, and said spacers being carried by and extending inwardly from said perforate support.

10. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, and said perforate support being resilient to enable the inner diameter thereof to be increased sufficiently to facilitate the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member.

11. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extending between said supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extending between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, said perforate support having openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed, and said spacers being generally frustoconical in configuration, but said portions of said spacers being generally cylindrical shanks.

12. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs.

13. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flashgun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs, and spacers that are carried by and that extend inwardly from said support to engage said supporting member and thereby space the inner surface of said support outwardly of said supporting member.

14. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs, said support being resilient to enable the inner diameter thereof to be increased sufficiently to facilitate the telescoping of said support over said supporting member. 

1. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said support being relatively stiff and thus being incapable of directly gripping and holding said flashbulbs, said openings in said support being too large to directly grip and hold said flashbulbs, said resilient grommets being dimensioned so the openings therein can releasably hold the bases of said flashbulbs, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to fit within and to resist accidental separation from said openings in said support, the engagements between said grommets and the portions of said support which define said openings in said support being sufficiently intimate to enable said grommets to remain within said openings despite the axially directed forces which are applied to said grommets as said flashbulbs are inserted into and removed from the openings in said grommets, said support being stiff and unyielding as said flashbulbs are inserted into and removed from the openings in said grommets and said grommets providing All and whatever yielding that is necessary to permit said flashbulbs to be assembled with and separated from said holder, said grommets having portions thereof projecting outwardly beyond the opposite faces of said support.
 2. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun.
 3. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said perforate support and said supporting member to hold the inner surfaces of said grommets spaced outwardly of said supporting member.
 4. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, said spacers having lengths greater than the thicknesses of the portions of said grommets which extend inwardly of said perforate support.
 5. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, and wherein said perforate support has openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed.
 6. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said perforate support has a normal unstressed diameter which must be increased to permit the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member.
 7. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said perforate support is resilient, wherein said perforate support has a normal unstressed diameter which must be increased to permit the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member, and wherein the restorative forces within said perforate support hold said perforate support and said supporting member in telescoped relation after said perforate support has been telescoped over said supporting member.
 8. A holder for flashbulbs as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacers extend between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, wherein said perforate support has openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed, and wherein said spacers are resilient.
 9. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extending between said perforate support and said supporting member to hold the inner surfaces of said grommets spaced outwardly of said supporting member, and said spacers being carried by and extending inwardly from said perforate support.
 10. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, and said perforate support being resilient to enable the inner diameter thereof to be increased sufficiently to facilitate the telescoping of said perforate support over said supporting member.
 11. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that has a plurality of openings therein and that has a plurality of resilient grommets held within said openings, said resilient grommets being dimensioned to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs in the openings thereof, said support having the form of a sleeve and being dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extendinG between said supporting member of a flash gun, spacers extending between said supporting member and the inner surface of said perforate support, said perforate support having openings in which portions of said spacers are disposed, and said spacers being generally frustoconical in configuration, but said portions of said spacers being generally cylindrical shanks.
 12. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs.
 13. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flashgun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs, and spacers that are carried by and that extend inwardly from said support to engage said supporting member and thereby space the inner surface of said support outwardly of said supporting member.
 14. A holder for flashbulbs which comprises a support that is sleevelike in configuration and that is dimensioned to telescope over a supporting member of a flash gun, said support having a plurality of openings therein to releasably hold the bases of flashbulbs, said support being resilient to enable the inner diameter thereof to be increased sufficiently to facilitate the telescoping of said support over said supporting member. 